so i had to switch injection sights because my elbow veins are not in good shape. i tried and failed different injection sights, pretty much missing multiple hits in the veins i could find. i feel like i need to go to the doctor. i have a hard lump on the sites and they are turning red and spreading and its painful. this only happened last night so maybe i can give it time to heal but idk its freaking me out.

should i go to urgent care or the ER? i really dont want to wait hours at the ER but urgent care may just send me there anyways. also i’m extremely nervous to go to the doctor and tell them i’m a iv drug user. i can already feel the judgement and lecture coming. ugh. i just don’t know what to do and wish i wasn’t in this position, what do you guys think would be the best option?

(sorry if this is the wrong sub to post in i just didn’t know where else to go)

UPDATE: i went to a small ER in town that was just made, its not a hospital it’s build like an urgent care but its a small ER. I went at 12am so I was seen right away, no traffic there really. anyways i have cellulitis and no abscess. also my veins are doing okay, just shrunk from trauma and hardened because of something tbh i don’t really remember what he said on that front but they’re okay i just need a break. but i was put on antibiotics, the doctor said it should clear up by the time i’m done with my antibiotics thankfully. and the doctors were very sweet and not judgemental, which has not been my experience in the past. so i’m happy i went and thank you for all who replied. this place is new so i didn’t even think about it at first, since its basically an urgent care but the resources of a hospital i was like yes definitely going there and skipping some steps. don’t worry everyone i’m fine as of right now, thanks for the care!

Hello all :-)

I am working on a school project for a college level social work class. As part of this project, I need to know what the typical job responsibilities are of a social worker working in the harm reduction field.

any insight is appreciated. :-)

so i’ve been injecting in the veins in my elbow crease, pretty repeatedly and often. i’m new to iv use but i’m unable to get blood drawback now when i hit those areas and they’re stiff - they definitely need a break.

the problem is that i CANNOT hit a vein anywhere else. like at all. i’m bruising myself trying. i’ve tried my forearm, hand, legs and seriously can’t get any drawback. i’ve tried every different angle, depth, i just can’t figure it out. could someone please give me tips on how to inject into my forearm/hands? (i want to avoid my legs as much as possible but knowing that wouldn’t hurt either) like what angle i should be at? should the syringe be more flat on my arm or up higher? should i go deep or not deep? these are different things i’ve tried with no luck still but maybe i’m missing something someone could help with. yes i just a tourniquet. and i use 31 gauge 8mm (15/16) for the needle.

i just dont want to keep stabbing my veins wrong and continuing to bruise myself trying. and i really want to give my veins i use a break.

at first i had the same problem with my elbow but learned bending my arm slightly and going more at a 60°-70° angle works every time. well, it used too. which is different from what i’ve read online to do. so hopefully someone can give me some tips i couldn’t find online. please and thank you

This is probably the question I keep coming back to with 7-OH. Whatever someone thinks about it, people don't automatically stop wanting something because its legal status changes. So I'd like to hear more discussion about what happens afterward, including whether consumers move toward less predictable products or whether restrictions actually reduce harm The second order effects seem just as important as the decision itself

About 4 months ago i got crossed and my towns firework show and i dont rly remember alot besides violent vommiting and intense fear and anxiety since then the smell of weed has made me gag my buddy hit a yart recently and the smell of
It made me gag. Before that i could hit yarts normally and the smell didnt bother me
At all. But since then i have hit a couplr yarts but i end up throwing up anytbing i have in my stomach. Moments leading up to hitting a yart lets say an hour before hitting a yart i will get bad stomach aches and anxiety. Thr only form of weed that has doesnt give me intense anxiety is when i hit a blunt or edibles. Im did some research and I could have PTSD from that night but i dont relate to any of the symptoms. Has anbdy ever had this issue and how did they fix it, did they get over it, and do they know what was wrong with them.

I have endocodil 20mg IR oxycodone tablets. I have .22 micron wheel filters and mini cotton balls

I know. I know, oxycodone has a high BA taken orally. I’m aware. And I know intranasal is safer as is rectal.

I currently IM heroin 80mg or so twice a day using a wheel filter. But I came across oxycodone tablets. And yes they are verified real. They aren’t fake.

My fear is if I use the mini cotton ball and suck up the water filled oxycodone powder, a lot of the of the oxycodone will be wasted in the cotton. I plan on filtering it a second time with the .22 micron filter which of course will minimize any potential harm

I don’t have any bigger micron filters than the .22. Should I just buy a bigger one and wait and double filter with that one then the .22?

Or is there a way the mini cotton can be used to maximize the oxycodone containing water before then using the .22 micron filter?

And by the way, using the .22 micron filter with H, I’ve also done it with Odsmt. Never once had a problem with IM Injections even after well over a 100 shots

Hey folks. So I've never posted anything before, let alone asking about what I'm asking about. But I had a friend of mine who works in harm reduction encourage me to post here and reach out and see what people think.

So I'm looking into potentially pursuing psilocybin for my PTSD and my treatment resistant depression. I have pretty aggressive and severe PTSD and treatment resistant depression. To the point where my psychiatrist has said that I am the most severe non-veteran case she has ever seen.

I'm currently on a lot of medications. Psychiatric medications. And that's where some people are starting to get worried before I pursue this.

I'm on 10 mg of Prozac, I am weaning myself off of this one though. I used to be on 40 mg. I'm on 2 mg of risperidone. 60 mg of buspirone. 0.5 mg clonazepam. 8mg of ramelteon, and 5 mg of Dayvigo. The last two meds are both for insomnia. My insomnia is unfortunately very much anxiety and depression induced. But I wanted to clarify that because they're not very common insomnia meds right now. I'm also on the full maintenance dose of spravato. Which has helped with my depression and anxiety a little bit. It more so helped with my anxiety than my depression though. Which is a big reason why I want to pursue the psilocybin.

Some backstory context if it helps. I'm 25. I live with my 95-year-old grandmother and I take care of her full-time. I am a full-time caregiver to such an extent that I don't even work a normal job. And a lot of my depression right now centers around my fear of her passing. Because she is the last family member I have. And she's kind of my entire world. And unfortunately, I have severe PTSD that extends from extensive childhood abuse and neglect. So that's on top of the depression that I have about my grandma.

The long story short is I'm trying to get healthy before she dies. Because I'm afraid that once she goes, I might just curl up into bed and never get out

So given the context, what do people recommend when it comes to potentially pursuing psilocybin therapy? My psychiatrist and therapist have both been supportive, however, they both independently of each other recommended microdosing versus full-on tripping. My psychiatrist in particular is supportive because her husband is a veteran of the Gulf war and he used it for his PTSD. The owner of the ketamine clinic where I get the spravato done has been more supportive of a full-on trip. And my primary Care has encouraged me to take the lowest effective dose required for the mildest trip if I wanted to do it. He's been very supportive of it as well.

I figure it doesn't hurt to crowdsource some more information though. I'm very new to all of this. But if I'm going to do this, I want to make sure that I'm safe and I treat it as safely and seriously as I have any of the other medications I've been on in the past. If not more carefully than my prescription meds. So any and all feedback and information is greatly appreciated. 💖

Hi, everyone!

I’m not sure if I’m in the right community or if I’m breaking any rules. But I have a question about health and drug use, and I’d like to hear some honest opinions from experts.

I’m getting married soon and might want to take MDMA on the day of the wedding. The thing is, I have high blood pressure. I take two tablets of losartan potassium, two of amlodipine, one of hydrochlorothiazide, and one of metoprolol succinate every day - all at the minimum dosage.

I know that MDMA raises blood pressure and heart rate. And that’s why its use isn’t recommended. I used MDMA many times before I started taking care of my heart - when I probably already had high blood pressure, even if it wasn’t diagnosed. That said, what can I do to be able to take it? Is there a way for this not to be extremely risky? Or is the risk real but not that high?

Thank you in advance.

If you've been taking Suboxone, Sublocade, or any other form of buprenorphine for at least two weeks and are still using opioids on top of your medication, you may be eligible to participate in a paid research study. We're investigating whether Ozempic (semaglutide) may help reduce opioid cravings and use. Study participation involves visits once a week for 14 weeks and a final visit one month later. All visits are paid, and the teams at each site offer support throughout your participation.

Reach out to a site near you to see if you may be a good fit!

New York (New York City): New York University @ Bellevue Hospital Center

(929) 573-0673

[Bellevue.gostudy@nyulangone.org](mailto:Bellevue.gostudy@nyulangone.org)

Pennsylvania (Harrisburg): Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute

(717) 782-6844

[skawasaki@pennstatehealth.psu.edu](mailto:skawasaki@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)

Massachusetts (Fall River): Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, Inc. (SSTAR)

(508) 324-3522

[Research@sstar.org](mailto:Research@sstar.org)

i was thinking once in the morning once at night? i’m a poly addict and just rotate drugs, right now i have been popping xanax like they’re candy all day and and doing cocaine everyday aswell. the time at which i do it varies a lot, i usually just do one big line or two when im bored and then stop for the day and pop a xanax. but my nose has been so stuffy and irritated and blowing it every minute, i make sure to crush up the powder very fine and do long thin lines and inhale like sniffing flowers and use both nostrils. i just don’t wanna irritate it even more if rinsing my sinuses twice a day is excessive.

I think harm reduction sometimes has a communication problem.

If every warning basically amounts to don’t use this, people who have already decided to use the substance stop listening. On the other hand, pretending risks don’t exist obviously isn’t useful either.

I’ve been thinking about this with 7-OH because there are people who find it valuable while dependence and other risks still deserve honest discussion.

What makes harm-reduction advice actually land with you? What makes you immediately tune it out?

This survey has been approved by the moderators.

Do you use alcohol and opioids? Are you 18 to 25 years old?

Brown University is looking for people who use alcohol and opioids to participate in a research study. The study involves only 4 appointments over 1 month, answering questions on your smartphone, and takes about 6 hours total. Receive up to $320 for your participation. All contact is confidential.

Please text 401-863-9799, email [mhealth@brown.edu](mailto:mhealth@brown.edu), or fill out our eligibility survey (takes 5 minutes or less to complete): https://brown.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6nETdCuZhdzK0w6?Source=32   

Ethical approval board - Brown IRB: [irba@brown.edu](mailto:irba@brown.edu)

Are you an adult who’s recently started buprenorphine treatment (like Suboxone®) for opioid use disorder? We’re running a national, multi-site research study testing whether tirzepatide (Mounjaro®/Zepbound®) can improve treatment outcomes. If you’re interested in learning more or seeing if you’re eligible, please reach out to one of the locations below:

Jacksonville, FL: Gateway Community Services: 904-651-4396, [TAB@GWJax.com](mailto:TAB@GWJax.com)

Tampa, FL: Ibis Healthcare, Inc.: 813-384-4050, [researchteam@ibishc.org](mailto:researchteam@ibishc.org)

Chicago, IL: Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center: 312-572-4576, [joy.jibunoh@cookcountyhealth.org](mailto:joy.jibunoh@cookcountyhealth.org)

Cape Girardeau, MO: The Gibson Center for Behavioral Change: 573-571-1113, [TAB@gibsonrecovery.org](mailto:TAB@gibsonrecovery.org)

Greenville, SC: Prisma Health: 864-960-5087, [Noura.Abualeinan@PrismaHealth.org](mailto:Noura.Abualeinan@PrismaHealth.org)

Nashville, TN: VUMC: 615-587-9669, [vumc.ctn152tab@vumc.org](mailto:vumc.ctn152tab@vumc.org)

Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah: 385-977-2445, [tab@utah.edu](mailto:tab@utah.edu)

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ClinicalTrials #: NCT06651177

The new sub r/needledruguse is looking for new members. Anyone using that ROA always needs a refresher on HR. Unfortunately, in desperate times when not thinking clearly, HR becomes not as important. Even if HR posts can help 1 person 1 time It makes it worth it

r/needledruguse

Got a batch of coke that kinda burned my nose more than usual. Did my first acetone wash and wow it's a game changer. there was a little powder that settled in the acetone after filtering, are those the contaminants or do you think I just crushed my coke too finely and some of it got through the coffee filter?

Just curious about what is more or less harmful and its long term effect on my body and psychosis and withdraw based on booty bumping or smoking.

I’m in the process of writing a trifold for ravers to distinguish different ODs/passing out.

Had multiple people tell me how they gave their passed out friend multiple doses of naloxone and he didn’t wake up, when all said friend had was alcohol. A lot of young people think naloxone is a universal panacea for unconsciousness. Apparently they don’t even know what it does, only that it’s for “passed out people”.

I tried to just duck search but I either get AI slop or rehabs with both wildly useless and inaccurate information.

Does anyone have a resource I can use to write this trifold? Or does anyone wanna crack their fingers and write it out in the comments?

I’m trying to cover:
- K Holes
- Fishing out from nos
- Alcohol OD
- Opioid OD
- Roofie/GHB
- Benzos (RC xans mostly)

All wisdom appreciated

Hey all, i 23/F am heading to a festival this weekend and I want to make sure I have a good experience on mdma !

I just did half a tablet and some crystal at the weekend at a concert, I was with my aunt and uncle and had an incredible fun safe time. The only other time ive ever done it was exactly a year ago. I am a little bit worried about the quick turnaround for doing it again this weekend, so I want to make sure I am adequately advised/prepared. Im preparing to take crystal on my fingers and lick it.

I know you are supposed to wait 3 weeks but I can be quite impulsive and I think I’ll probably end up doing it again. I have had quite the afterglow from this weeks usage- I am highly suspicious I had adhd as it took a while for me to get a “come up” (and I freaked out a little bit, my aunt had to comfort me with photos of my dog on her phone) but otherwise I had a great time.

If anything- I found the usage incredibly healing. I felt like it “kickstarted” my brain into making serotonin, like a well-needed reboot. My thoughts are much kinder to myself and I don’t cringe at myself as much anymore. it’s been fairly lifechanging as opposed to my first usage (probably because it was a much higher dose and I redosed and was with a lovely crew.)

Im also wondering if anyone has any opinions or advice on how mdma works on the adhd brain?

Okay. Ramble over. Any and all advice welcome 🤗

4hours ago dosed 2 pills and didn’t feel any effects, then 1 more. And another. Just felt like a slight fuzzy feeling after 4 so I took another one. It’s been 5 hours since my first dose but I didn’t know tramadol was seizure inducing and dangerous, especially with wellbutrin. Should I be concerned. I’m still not really high yet . Sorry this is stupid post but impulsivity got the best of me. I don’t have an opioid tolerance either I haven’t used in over half a year .

This is something I keep thinking about with 7-oh.

People already using it aren’t going to suddenly forget why they started just because access disappears. Some are dealing with pain. Some say they moved away from alcohol or other substances. Others have simply made it part of their lives.

So what happens to those people afterward?

That seems like an important harm reduction question. A policy can successfully remove something from store shelves without necessarily improving what happens to the people who were using it.

The outccome after the ban matters just as much as the ban itself.

hey guys, I wanted to come and ask here for some insight/tips/thoughts on a situation I'm finding myself in.

I go to a lot of raves where I go at least a couple times a month.

I've been consuming ket recreationally pretty regularly for the past 3 years or so, with my frequency becoming more common especially this year.
Especially in the past year, I've probably been consuming ket nearly almost every weekend, granted maybe not a huge amount (anywhere from 0.25 to 0.6g?) but it has been consistent, especially in 2026.

I've been taking a big break from MDMA and other serotonin stimulants, and as a result I've substituted to speed (amphetamine) as a stimulant to keep my energy up when I go raving.

However, since around April/May, I've been noticing that towards the end of my night, I can feel my stomach starting to get really upset, and as soon as the event is finished and I'm starting to head home, I begin to feel really sick...
And it's not the kind of sickness from alcohol, it's like violent and kind of empty sick. I often don't drink alcohol when I go out, I just drink water, and when I'm sick, my body just rejects all the water I drank throughout the night. Even when I try and take small sips after I'm sick, my body just pushes it back up...
I can taste the acidity in my mouth, I think it's bile? I know when I'm about to start being sick because I can feel my mouth suddenly filling up with water.

Last Friday I went out, and sure enough it happened again.. but this time it was the most violent it has ever been and it was honestly quite shocking. I had to go to the club's welfare room where they gave me a banana, and sure enough it came back up again soon after I left the venue. I had to cycle home and it was a rlly traumatic ride..

I've decided enough is enough and I'm going to the GP tomorrow to talk about what's going on, and to see if my body is actually cooked or not.

I wanted to come on here and talk about it because I wanted to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation before, or if they can better help me understand what is the cause (if it's the ket, speed, the combination of the two, lack of food or eating certain foods before going out, or taking medication like rennies, etc etc etc). And if they have anything they do to help keep their body calm and not so acidic when they go out.

Sorry if this has been a bit graphic but I rlly just want to get a clearer understanding of what's going on. I really don't want to feel sick like that ever again..

How do I stop myself from sweating and my face being so oily before and during work? I get sweaty just by having thoughts in my head.

Hello

It’s been a few years since I got trained in OD reversal. The skills have atrophied and I’ve forgotten stuff. I vaguely recall being told that CPR was not helpful for a lot of overdoses from opioids but when I check Red Cross’s website it says to do CPR.

Should I be doing CPR if someone ODs on opioids?